Railway signaling



Sept. 20, 1938. G. R. PFLASTERER RAILWAY SIGNALING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1956 HIS ATTORNEY Sept; 20, 1938. .e. R. PFLASTERER RAILWAY SIGNALING Filed Dec. 11, 1 936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Geolyell fi HIS ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 STATES PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SIGNALING George R. Pflasterer, Swissvale, Pas assignor to The Union Switch & Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 11, 1936, Serial No. 115,406

7 Claims. (Cl. 24650) My invention relates to railway signaling, and zontal or stop position, a 45 or caution posiparticularly to signaling involving wayside sigtion. and a vertical or proceed position; and nals located along a trackway for governing the each lower unit L is a lamp Y capable of dispassage of trains. playing a yellow light.

A feature of my invention is the provision of Operatively connected with each semaphore novel and improved apparatus for establishing a arm U are contacts ll, l2, l3 and a pair of pole distinctive control for each of three sections in changing contacts l4 and I5. Contact l l is in the rear of an occupied section. Each distincengagement with contact 16 at all times except tive control is eifective to cause a corresponding when the semaphore arm is in the vertical posiaspect of the associated Wayside signal whereby tion. Contact i2 is in enga e ent With Contact 10 there is produced a three-block, four-indication W When the Semap Dre a is at the p system of i naling tion or the 60 position or at any point between The apparatus provided by this invention is an these tWO positions. Contact I3 is in engagement improvement on th apparatus shown and with contact I8 only when the semaphore arm claimed in the appncation of Howard Thompis in the 45 position. Pole changing contacts 14 1 son, Serial No. 692,155, filed October 4, 1933, and and 5 r in n ment with contacts l9 and in the application of Charles H. Lay, Serial No. respectiVely. Ve e Semaphore ar 113,669, i1 December 1, 1935 is in its 60 position or in its vertical position I will describe one form of apparatus embodyat any nt ween these two positions, and

20 mg my invention, and will then point out the are in e gagement with contacts 2| and 22, re- 20 novel features thereof in claims spectively, whenever the semaphore arm is at In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1A and any point below e p s ti 133 are diagrammatic views which, when p1aced For controlling the associated signal, each secend to end in the order named, illustrate one tion s provided w t a p ar d al ntr l form of apparatus embodying my invention, relay, a neutral signal control relay, and an aux- 25 Similar reference characters refer to similar iliary relay designated y the e e ce C arparts in each of t t Views acters I-ID, J, and A, respectively, each with apre- Ref rring to the drawings, the reference harfix the same as the reference character of the acters i and 2 designate the rails of a stretch associated Signalof taflwa'y track along which t g normally For controlling the associated relay HD each 30 moves in the direction indicated by the arrows. Section is provided With a p of Conductors each These rails are divided by insulated joints 3 into of which extends to the signal next in advance a plurality of track sections and and each of which includes a front contact of each of the associated track relays.

As here shown, each track section is divided by Each Section is pr vided with a suitable source 35 insulated joints 3 into at least two sub-sections of energy, the terminals of which are designated ET, 2T, 3T, 5'1", etc. Each sub-section is proby the reference characters B and C, vided with a track circuit which includes a track Each e y HD is Connected to the associated battery 4 connected across the rails at one end p of Conductors y Contact l|-I6 of the asso- 40 of the sub-section and a track relay, designated ciated signal. Each relay A is controlled by a 40 by the reference character TR. with a prefix the front contact of the associated relay HD and each same as the numerical prefix in the reference relay J is controlled by a back contact of the character of the associated sub-section, connectassociated relay HD and a front contact of the ed across the rails at the other end of the subassociated relay A. As will be explained more in ti detail hereinafter, the pair of conductors for 45 To govern the passage of trains through the each section isat times supplied with constant stretch of railway, a wayside signal designated energy and at other times with periodically inby a suitable distinguishing reference character, terrupted energy, so that the neutral contact is provided for each track section. Each of these of the associated relay HD is either constantly signals includes an upper indication unit U and closed at its front point or alternating between a lower indication unit L. These units may take its front and back points. The relays A, thereany one of several forms of signal mechanism fore, become picked up whenever the associated such as semaphore, color light, searchlight, or relay HD is supplied either with constant energy position light. As here shown, each upper unit U or with periodic energy and the relays J become 65- is a semaphore arm cap-able of assuming a horipicked up only when the associated relay HD is supplied with periodic energy. The slow release characteristic of the relays J and A prevents the release of these relays during open circuit periods.

Each section is provided with a code transmitting relay designated by the reference character CT with a prefix the same as the reference character of the associated signal. As here shown, each relay CT is periodically energized over its own back contact whenever the associated relay HD is energized provided that the associated relay J is deenergized and the associated semaphore arm U is in the 45 position.

The signal pole changing contacts l4 and I5 and the relays J and CT control the character and direction of the energy supplied to the line conductors for the section next in the rear.

The relays HD, J, and A control the upper unit U and the lower unit L of the associated signal in the following manner: When these relays are deenergized and the associated line circuit is opened (see signal 19), both semaphore arm U and lamp Y are deenergized so that signal 10 is displaying its semaphore arm in the horizontal contact 21 of relay 9A to terminal C. Semaphore arm U of signal 9, therefore, is in the caution position to indicate approach next signal prepared to stop. When relay HD is periodically energized in the reverse direction (see signal 8), relay 8A remains picked up over front point of contact 25 of relay 8HD and relay 8J becomes picked up over back point of contact 25 of relay 8HD and front contact 28 of relay 8A so that the caution circuit for semaphore arm U remains closed over front contacts 26 and 21 of relay 8A and a circuit is established for the lamp Y of the lower unit L of that signal. This latter circuit passes from terminal B over contact I3l8 of signal 8, front point of contact 29 of relay 8J, and lamp Y to' terminal C. Signal 8, therefore, is displaying its upper semaphore arm U in the caution position over a yellow light to indicate approach next signal at medium speed. When relay HD is constantly energized in the normal direction (seesignal 1), relay TA will be energized so that the caution circuit for the upper semaphore arm U will remain closed over front contacts 26 and 21. of relay 5A and a proceed circuit for the semaphore arm U will be closed over a path which passes from terminal B over front point of contact 26 of relay 1A, normal polar contact 3il3| of relay 'IHD, semaphore arm U and front point of contact 21 of relay 1A to terminal C. Signal 1, therefore, is displaying its semaphore arm in the vertical position to indicate proceed at normal speed. .VVhen the semaphore arm U of signal I2 attained its proceed position, signal contact I Il6 became open so that relay THD, and consequently relay 1A, became released. When relay IA is released, the caution and proceed circuits for semaphore arm U willbe connected over back points of contacts 26 and 21 of relay 1A directly to the line circuit for the section W-X. Signal 1., therefore, will continue to display the semaphore arm U in the proceed position, as shown in the drawings. 1

As here shown, a train K is indicated diagrammatically in the section immediately to the rightof location Z so that the signal l0 and associated relays are all deenergized.

When signal 10 and associated apparatus is in this condition, relay 9I-ID is constantly energized in the reverse direction by a circuit which passes over a path from terminal B at signal I9 through back contact 33 of code transmitter IUCT, back point of contact 34 of relay IOJ, contact l5 -22 of signal I9, front contact 35 of relay 6TB, front contact 36 of relay 5TB, relay 9H1), contact Hl6 of signal 9, front contact 31 of relay 5TB, front contact 38 of relay GTR, contact l4-2| of signal I0, back point of contact 39 of relay NJ, and back contact 40 of relay IBCT to terminal C.

When relay 9I-ID is constantly energized in the reverse direction, so that relay 9J is deenergized and semaphore arm U of signal 9 is in the caution position, code transmitter 9CT becomes periodically energized by a circuit which passes from terminal B over contact l3--l8 of signal 9, back point of contact 4| of relay 9J, front contact 42 of relay SHD, back contact 43 of relay 9CT, and relay SCT to terminal C. Under this condition relay 8HD is "energized in the reverse direction by periodic energy over a path which passes from terminal B at signal 9 through back contact 44 of relay 9CT, back point of contact 45 of relay SJ, contact l522 of signal 9, front contact 46 of relay lTR, front contact 41 of relay 3TB, relay 8HD, contact H|6 of signal 8, front contact 48 of relay 3TH, front contact 49 of relay 4TB, contact I42l of signal 8, back point of contact 50 of relay SJ and back contact 5| of relay SCT to terminal C.

When relay 8HD is periodically energized in the reverse direction so that the semaphore arm U remains in its caution position and relay 8J becomes energized, relay 'IHD is energized in the normal direction byconstant energy. The circuit for relay 8J may be traced over a path which passes from terminal B through back point of contact 25 of relay 8HD and front contact 28 of relay 8A andfrelay 8J to terminal C. The circuit for relay EHD may be traced over a path which passes from terminal B at signal 8 through front point of contact 52 of relay 8J, contact I42l of signal 8, front contact 53 of relay 2TB, front contact5 l of relay ITR, contact H--l6 of signal I, relay.'lI-1D, front contact 55 of relay ITR, front contact 59 of relay 2TB, contact l522 of signal 8, and front point of contact 57 of relay 8J to terminal C.

It will be noted that relay '!J is provided with a stick circuit which passes from terminal B through contact 12-41 of signal 1, front contact 62 of relay U, and relay U to terminal C. This stick circuit insures that relay U will remain energized, to .supplyover front points of contacts 69 and 6! of relay lJ constant energy in the normal direction to the line conductors for the section next in rear in location W while semaphore arm U of signal 7 is moving from its 47 position to its position, even though the pickup circuit for relay 'IJ became opened due to relay 'IHD being energized by constant .current. 'When semaphore arm U of signal I is in its 60 position or at any point above the 60 position, the line conductors for the section next in rear of location W are supplied with constant energy in the normal direction through contacts I4I9 and l520 of signal I! so that the signal in the rear (not shown) associated with such conductors will be in the condition to display the normal proceed indication. Consequently, the

energization of the rear line circuit is not disturbed during the time the semaphore arm U of signal I is moving from its caution to its proceed position.

When semaphore arm U has attained its proceed position, signal contact I |l6 will become opened to release relay 'IHD, thereby releasing relay 7A and permitting this latter relay to close the back points of its contacts 26 and 27 to connect the proceed circuit for the semaphore arm direct to the line conductors for section WX.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a section of railway track provided with a pair of conductors governed by traiiic conditions in said section, means for supplying said conductors with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy in said one direction or with constant energy in the other direction in accordance with trafijc conditions in advance of said section, a polarized relay for said section receiving energy from said pair of conductors, a first and a second auxiliary relay controlled by said polarized relay, said first relay being picked up whenever said polarized relay is energized either by periodic energy or by constant energy and said second relay being picked up only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a four-indication signal for said section, and means controlled by said polarized relay as well as by said two auxiliary relays for controlling said signal.

2. In combination, a section of railway track provided with a pair of conductors governed by trafiic conditions in said section, means for supplying said conductors with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy in said one direction or with constant energy in the other direction in accordance with traffic conditions in advance of said section, a polarized relay for said section receiving energy from said pair of conductors, a first and a second auxiliary relay controlled by said polarized relay, said first relay being picked up whenever said polarized relay is energized either by periodic energy or by constant energy and said second relay being picked up only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a signal for said section including a lamp and a semaphore arm capable of assuming a caution and a proceed position as well as a stop position, a caution circuit for said semaphore arm including a front neutral contact of said first auxiliary relay, a proceed circuit for said semaphore arm including a front neutral contact of said polarized relay and a normal polar contact of said polarized relay, a contact operably governed by r: said semaphore arm, and a circuit for said lamp including said contact and a front contact of said second auxiliary relay.

3. In combination, a section of railway track provided with a pair of conductors governed by traffic conditions in said section, means for supplying said conductors with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy in said one direction or with constant energy in the other direction in accordance with trafiic conditions in advance of said section, a

polarized relay for said section receiving energy from said pair of conductors, two auxiliary relays, means effective to energize one of said auxiliary relays whenever said polarized relay is supplied with constant energy or periodic energy, means effective to energize the other of said auxiliary relays only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a signal for said section capable of displaying a stop and three distinctive proceed indications, and means governed entirely by said two auxiliary relays and said polarized relay for governing said signal.

4. In combination, a forward and a rear section of railway track, a polarized relay for the forward section which becomes deenergized when that section is occupied, means effective when the forward section is unoccupied to supply said polarized relay with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy in said one direction or with constant energy in the other direction, a first auxiliary relay which becomes picked up whenever said polarized relay is energized either constantly or periodically, a second auxiliary relay which becomes picked up only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a pair of conductors for the rear section governed by traffic conditions in said section, and means controlled entirely by said polarized relay and said first and second auxiliary relays for governing the character and direction of the energy supplied to said conductors.

5. In combination, a forward and a rear section of railway track, a polarized relay for the forward section which becomes deenergized when that section is occupied, means effective when the forward section is unoccupied to supply said polarized relay with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy in said one direction or with constant energy in the other direction, a first auxiliary relay which becomes picked up whenever said polarized relay is energized either constantly or periodically, a second auxiliary relay which becomes picked up only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a pair of conductors for the rear section governed by traflic conditions in said section, a signal controlled exclusively by said polarized relay and said first and second auxiliary relays, and means governed by said signal as well as by said first and second auxiliary relays for governing the direction and character of the current supplied to said conductors.

6. In combination, a forward and a rear section of railway track, a polarized relay for the forward section which becomes deenergized when that section is occupied, means eifective when the forward section is unoccupied to supply said polarized relay with constant energy in one direction or with periodically interrupted energy the other direction, a first auxiliary relay which becomes picked up whenever said polarized relay is energized either constantly or periodically, a second auxiliary relay which becomes picked up only when said polarized relay is supplied with periodic energy, a pair of conductors for the rear section governed by traflic conditions in said section, a signal controlled exclusively by said polarized relay and said first and second auxiliary relays, a code transmitting relay for governing the character of current supplied to said conductors, and a circuit for said code transmitting relay including a contact operably governed by said signal and a back contact of said second circuit eifective'either 'when said signal is in said one condition and said auxiliary relay is picked up or when said signal is in said other condition, and means operative when said auxiliary relay'is picked up for maintaining said auxiliary relay in its picked up condition until said signal attains its other condition thereby avoiding an interruption of excessive length in the energization of said circuit when said signal is moving from one condition to the other con- 10 dition.

- GEORGE R. PFLAS'I'ERER. 

